Our People

Special thanks to the our Board and Staff and Graphic Designers for providing their time and expertise to advancing AWFW's critical mission.

Caroline Cherry

Communications Specialist / Board Director - In addition to her journalism degree from the University of Maryland, Caroline Cherry has years of research and communications experience working and volunteering with nonprofit organizations.  She has worked with the writer's group for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and has served on the Board of Directors for the Vegetarian Society of DC.

David Herring

Nutritionist / Board Director - David Herring's formal education on health and wellness includes a BS in pre-med biology and chemistry from Seton Hall University and an MS in community nutrition and food science from Cornell University. David has actively promoted healthy people and a healthy planet through his work as a full-time nutritionist. David has also been involved with the Vegetarian Society of DC (VSDC) as the Editor of VSDC News from 2004-2010, as a VSDC Board Member from 20052010, and as the Director and Instructor of the 2007 VSDC Eat Smart Program - an outreach nutrition program prioritizing the African American women in Washington, DC.

Robert Goodland

Climate Change Specialist / Board Advisor - Dr. Robert Goodland served the World Bank Group as their Environmental Adviser for 23 years, during which time he drafted and persuaded the Bank to adopt most of its current social and environmental policies. He was then appointed as the technical director of the independent Extractive Industries Review of the World Bank's oil, gas and mining portfolio. He was elected president of the International Association for Impact Assessment, and Metro Chair of the Ecological Society of America. He was honored in 2008 as the first recipient of the Coolidge medal for lifetime achievement in environmental conservation, presented by the prestigious International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Pattrice Jones

Hunger Specialist / Board Advisor - founder of the Global Hunger Alliance and co-founder of the Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Education Center. Pattrice Jones has been active in multiple social change movements since the 1970s.  Pattrice speaks and writes frequently of the connections between earth, animal and human liberation. She is the author of Aftershock: Confronting Trauma in a Violent World.

Milton Mills

Race & Nutrition Specialist / Board Advisor - Dr. Milton Mills is the Associate Director of Preventive Medicine with the Physicians Committe for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and co-author of PCRM's report on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.  Whether internist Milton Mills is practicing at Fairfax Hospital in Virginia or at free clinics in Washington, D.C., his prescription for patients is likely to include some dietary advice: go vegetarian. "Medical research shows conclusively that a plant-based diet reduces chronic disease risk, so that's something I absolutely encourage my patients to move toward," says Dr. Mills, a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine.  Dr. Mills doesn't limit his message to his patients. He takes it to audiences around the country as well, speaking at hospitals, churches, and community centers.

Dawn Moncrief

Founding Director / Board Director - Dawn Moncrief has worked in the nonprofit sector since 1994 and has two Masters Degrees from The George Washington University: the first in International Relations specializing in economic development, the other in Women's Studies specializing in women-in-development. Her focus is on the detrimental effects of intensive animal agriculture on world hunger, especially women in low-income countries. She also works with groups and individuals to reduce global meat consumption as part of efforts to reduce global hunger and reverse global warming. Related research areas are global trade and environmental protection via diet and agricultural reform. 

Email - dmoncrief@awfw.org

Molly Phemister

Biodiversity Specialist / Researcher - Molly Phemister is the founder of Gardenary People, a garden coaching and cooperative design business.  She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia, as well as a Master of Education and a BA in Art. She is a published author, most recently with "The Biggest Picture: Global Food and Hunger Issues" for Planning magazine, the flagship publication of the American Planning Association. Other articles include "The Beets Out Back: Bringing the Local Food Movement Home", "For Joyful Dissent," and smaller pieces for Ecoagriculture Partners and The Cultural Landscape Foundation. Her current projects include upcoming book, Agency & Abundance in the Hedgerow Landscape and the educational website Designing-Edible-Gardens.

Maru Vigo

Latino Outreach Specialist / Board Advisor - Maru Vigo holds an M.A. in Education in addition to her Modern Languages degree. She has been an advocate for social change for more than 30 years and works as a foreign language educator and translator.  Her activism began in Lima, Peru. Since moving to to Arizona in 1987, her work has expanded to include public speaking, media presentations, statewide initiatives, advocacy training, and development of advocacy networks.  Maru is a correspondent for The Ark, the official bulletin of Catholic Concern for Animals and a Certified Humane Education Specialist.

Michael Weber

Environmental Specialist / Researcher - Michael Weber specializes in environmental cost/benefit analyses and opportunity costs and holds a degree in Environmental Economics and Policy. At Evergreen State College, he was part of the team that conducted the first greenhouse gas emission and sequestration calculation of a US college. Michael organizes national and local social justice campaigns on issues public health, environmental sustainability, and animal well-being. 

Aaron Wissner

Peak Oil & Energy Specialist / Board Advisor - Aaron Wissner is founder and president of Local Future, a nonprofit, educational organization. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Wissner holds a major in mathematics with an emphasis in educational theory and science.  His advanced coursework includes graduate studies at Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University in educational leadership.  Aaron was president of the Wayland Union Education Association, the Allegan County Education Association, and the MEA/NEA Region 9 Education Association.  In January 2008, Aaron was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal detailing his peak oil education efforts.

AWFW's Graphic Designers  

Kristen Argenio - is the founder of Ideal Design.  Ideal Design provides graphic design and communication services with the aim of creating positive change.  Kristen has a BA, summa cum laude, in graphic design from Rochester Institute of Technology.  Throughout her career, she has been active with the environmental, human and animal welfare movements, and serves on the Board of Live Green.  As a member of the American Institute for Graphic Arts, she continues to advance the cause of 'greener' thinking within the professional design community. 

Robin Helfritch - is the founder of Red Robin Design, Inc.  She has more than 15 years professional design experience in the graphic and web design industry. Her talents include graphic design (both print & digital), web design and authoring, animation, digital image editing and creative manipulation, logo design, interactive CD authoring, Flash and PowerPoint presentations, package design, and trade show display design. She has won many industry awards for her work. Additionally, Robin donates time to grassroots animal and vegan groups, and sponsors rescued farm animals at sanctuaries.